Side Note One to the 2015 Review: On the Last COH

It felt hollow, our last Court of Honor. People shared their memories from a bygone era and mourned the lost of that which they left. I'm sorry I don't know the troop 831 of the 90s or 2000s, and that I barely recognize anyone that showed up. Here's my sidebar: yes it was a magical reunion of yore, but it was the mourning of something completely preventable. They mourned their memories of 831, not the 831 that held that court of honor.

As the scouts from years past walked up to speak about their memories or advice or whatever, each one of them recounted memories and punctuated their speeches with a near-condemnation of the current administration for ending it. Here's the deal: we had 4 scouts legally under 18 and on the books.

I saw this coming back when I was SPL: we lost our feeder pack because the Cubmaster pulled the jenga blocks and left, leaving it to collapse in the hands of someone who supposedly abused the money or something, and while that's a nice little excuse it isn't a good one. In 2010 and 2012 we needed to look at recruitment, not sustainability. Because without the first one, the second was and proved to be impossible. Not once did Troop 831 take up an independent scouting recruiting effort. I understand that it's hard to recruit teenagers into scouting: I attempted to do it and it didn't work once. We reached out nowhere packwise, and this grand network of alumni remained silent and detached until April 26th. That's the reality.

It wasn't overnight, people just didn't join. And those of us that were there aged out. So before you fault the scoutmaster for overnight killing your childhood, realize that you detached yourself from it, and ignored the Eagle Promise to give back to scouting. The time it could've been saved was between 2010 and about 2013. I will admit I was SPL within that window, but at the same time this needed to be a boy and adult-led effort. It's done, and over. Just don't blame us.

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Christmas Letter 2015/2016

Here is the annual Christmas Letter enclosed within the cards we sent out this year. Enjoy if you're the kind of person that like that kind of thing!

Hello!

We hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits.I’m not entirely sure if we sent out a letter last year, but to be completely honest I find it hard to believe that it’s already Christmas time. Then again, with the weather the way it is the only thing dictating Christmas is the turning of the calendar. 

Speaking of that calendar, here’s a recap of 2015 for our family, a year most notable for its transitions. If I went month-by-month, this letter would end up being three pages long, and most of that timing would be pure guessing based off a Google calendar. So here are the highlights by person.

First, my brother Matt. He has been involved with the local volunteer fire department (Glendale Hose Company #1) for about a year and a half now. He has completed all of the training he is allowed to as a junior fireman. There’s some sort of magic training he can only do after he turns 18, so he hasn’t done that yet. He did turn 16 this year and after a test he has a driving permit. Pennsylvania drivers beware: he is planning on taking the driving test for his license in January. He’s a fantastic driver honestly; I say beware because adults generally say that, also he could possibly show you up with his skillset. 

He’s now also employed at the Shop ‘n Save in Scott. Last I checked (he’s not around much) he’s working in the stocking department and seems to be enjoying himself there. If nothing else, I’ve enjoyed his stories from working on the front lines of a grocery store. He is excelling at Parkway West Career and Technology Center studying electrical systems technology. As for what he’s doing with the other half of his day at Carlynton, I plead the fifth.

Rotor the Killer Wiener Dog is also in good health. I’m pretty sure. He does some weird stuff sometimes, but then again he’s a dog and not actually my brother. Then again, at times he’s nicer to me than my actual brother but that’s neither here nor there.

My mother is working at Saint Clair Hospital in their Pathology department typing and filing documentation for the stuff that comes out of people from surgeries. I enjoy her stories also, but they tend to center around fickle doctors instead of bizarre grocery incidents like my brother’s stories. She’s also slowly going insane with two teen drivers in the house, a schizophrenic dog, and a college student (yours truly).

My father is about the same as last reported. He doesn’t change much: he works for the state (his stories are a mix of gripes with Marcellus shale workers and state lawmakers), he’s a homeless scout leader (our boy scout troop folded in April unfortunately (much to my personal chagrin)), and does general priest-like things like making bulletins and answering phone calls from people the state over. Recently he’s been doing sleep studies in hopes of figuring out what makes him snore, but reports from my mother lead me to believe this isn’t a new thing and personally I’m not sure this is a fixable thing. My reasoning? When we were staying over for a recent family function, my brother, then father, then dog, then mother all started snoring causing me to sleep on a couch in another room.

Which brings me to, well, me. This year I became an Eagle Scout, graduated Carlynton High School (with a 4.0 GPA), and began working toward a degree in journalism at Point Park University. I live on campus there with a group of guys and girls whom I’ve come to call my second second family. My first family is the people actually related to me, and my second family is the people in Slickville. Already I’ve become involved with the campus newspaper as an editor, with the campus radio as a DJ, and with the student government. I work part-time for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as a high school sports stringer: those guys who take calls from high school basketball coaches seeking score reports for print. 

For us, this year has been crazy busy and 2016 shows no sign of this trend stopping. 

Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a Blessed New Year!

Sincerely,

        [Signed Alex, Matt, Gina, and Father Bob Popichak]

On Valentine's Day: The Bonus 2/14/14 Post.

So this is an alternative post to the one on on the main site, which you can read later.

Today is Friday, February 14, 2014: Valentine('s, s'?) Day. I'm not exactly sure what that is supposed to mean. Last year for me it was a show-your-girlfriend-you-care-despite-the-fact-you-see-her-nearly-every-day* thing, but even that felt a bit hollow (though I planned it at least for a week ahead of time). It seems like a lot of emphasis is put on proving things. Proving that you're right, that they're wrong, that you truly love XYZ, that you are loyal to such team or such person, it all seems like it all hinges in this innate distrust people have for one another.

That being said, I think that if you're going to show someone affection, just do it. Don't wait for some arbitrary date to tell someone how they feel (especially holidays, because then those holidays will become associated with said response), use holidays like Valentine's Day as an excuse to go over-the-top. Get him or her two flowers instead of one, I don't know. If you're looking for sound relationship advice from a single, high school junior/web designer, you are doomed.

Nevertheless, I think the holiday is brilliant for expression, a random bright spot in the middle of winter, and here's the best part: not necessary to participate in. But if you want to eat some chocolate, or send some hobo some flowers or whatever, by all means do it!

It has been my experience thus far that the human experience is an experience that requires interaction, and that people rely upon each other to keep moving forward and to stay sane. It seems counterproductive, but who ever said humans were logical?

For the Main Site Post, Click HERE!

*Yeah, so I never talked about this relationship. At all. Honestly, I don't feel it was necessary; she was quite private about the whole thing so I never acknowledged it here, my blog, my choice.

Side Note to the 2013 Review

To those asking me why I didn't try out for 2014's musical, the answer is twofold: 1) I want to focus on SATs/that Junior Year Stuff Everyone Talks about and Hates and 2) Well, here's my final realization posted shortly after we ended 9 to 5:

I am glad that I'm putting it in my past. I realized that I love performing, but I abhor dancing and and singing at the same time. The real reason I even tried out was to try my hand at acting, which apparently I CAN do, but I'm still keeping my sights set on radio. But why, you ask?
Well, the first answer is obvious - WYEP! The second is a realization I came to tonight. It was the annual Powder Puff football fundraiser for the Junior class. I ended up, you guessed it, announcing. I love doing it, and I can't pinpoint why. I mean, everyone has that inner want to say something over a loudspeaker, right? Well, I think so.

Now that has changed from radio to some form of something else, but nevertheless the point is this: It's not a pointed personal attack, it's not some sort of silent protest against something.

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It's a Beautiful Day - Don't Let It Get Away

So I'm going to go on a rant. Apparently people like that. Fair warning.

So as the title of this site may hint, I am scheduled to graduate high school in 2015. But apparently in order to do that I need a certain amount of credits earned by June of 2015 in order to do so. I'd hope that my school has been keeping track of this, and as a result can provide guidance as to what I should do as a course of action to that aim. 

I am still in talks about my schedule for next year. It's July 13th. 

I am not sure how complicated the process is, I understand that building a master schedule is extremely difficult (this per our superintendent) but what about for an individual. Two facts I want to make sure are there: Fact 1) I graduate in 2015. Fact 2) I don't need to go to summer school or something to make up credits. 

Should seem like reasonable requests, but I'm not certain of anything. Scheduling has changed hands twice since I entered the 7th grade, and thrice since my fourth grade year. I guess more than anything I'm just frustrated. I'm not that difficult of a case - I have scholars/honours level courses and want to maintain some arts program (which is in conflict with a separate choice, which I understand). 

Now there's a movement to fix the scheduling coming from the fine arts department, which I can respect, considering I am the announcer for the Marching band, am a two year member of the Guys Ensemble, four year member of the chorus, and my brother is in the band, But I think the issue isn't unique to the arts. I think it's a system wide issue, where I can't even get a straight answer as to how many credits I have earned IN THE SAME SCHOOL. 

Education is a unique industry in that people who have gone through it run it and the people in it have no control over it, and are at the mercy of people who were elected to make sure the industry works. 

No Child Left Behind was a good theory - let's try to standardize education so students everywhere get the same (ideally the best) education. But it was poorly executed. Instead of building a common set of curriculum or books or something, it was executed through testing. 

And now it appears to me that that's what it's boiled down to. I'm worried about getting enough credits to graduate with my class when I'm labeled "gifted" and the district is worried about attaining a certain AYP status through (in my honest opinion) bogus tests.  

So what am I proposing? Well, I'm not overly qualified to propose anything considering I'm still in the system. But I will anyway. 

I think that educators and legislators should get together and create a nation wide common core. This would leave things like scheduling and the sort to the individual districts, and the 'AYP' stuff is no longer a benchmark, but something that is used as a tool to better the education of all. 

The sad thing is, there isn't one "right" or "proven" way to protest, or to get the attention of the people in power. Sometimes standing up, other times sitting down and more often than not people need to be violent and loud to get the attention the issue deserves.

This is an issue that I think needs to be resolved, but what do I know? I'm just a junior in high school.

Re(imagiNATION) Announcement 2013: ART!

PITTSBURGH, PA – WYEP’s Youth Media Project, Re(imagine) Media is proud to announce that it is accepting applications for the art division of its annual youth music and arts festival, Re(imagiNATION). The festival will be held on May 4.

This is a chance to be a part of a unique display of all mediums of art in a creative atmosphere. The art will be showcased at the music and arts festival, and will be judged by a panel of local art experts.

The artist must be from Southwestern Pennsylvania, and must be high school aged (14-18). All art must be original. Art can be in any medium. A photograph of the work or a digital copy of the work should be submitted in the application. Applications will be accepted until March 29.

For more information, and to get the application, visit WYEP’s website, wyep.org. Applications can be submitted online, or emailed to Matthew Spangler. For more information, please contact Matthew Spangler at matthew@wyep.org

Re(imagine) Media is a teen-led organization centered on media creation and advocacy. The program is designed to empower participants as the voice of today's youth. Participants hone leadership skills as they become spokespeople for issues that are important to them.

91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh, the first green station in the nation, is a nationally recognized Triple A public radio station and leading Pittsburgh arts organization. The WYEP Community Broadcast Center is a LEED- Silver Certified building and is located on the Pittsburgh’s South Side. 91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh is an independent voice, inspiring our community with diverse music and vibrant ideas.

Re(imagiNATION) Announcement 2013: Music

PITTSBURGH, PA – WYEP’s Youth Media Project, Re(imagine) Media is proud to announce that it is accepting applications for the music part of its annual youth music and arts festival, Re(imagiNATION). The festival will be held on May 4.

Whether a novice solo act or a band that’s been together for years, this is a great opportunity for exposure in the Pittsburgh music scene. The top five acts that are chosen from the audition videos will perform in front of a live audience and win a mentorship with a local artist. The winning act will also receive recording time in a professional recording studio and a customized press kit.

At least one member of the act must be from Southwestern Pennsylvania, and at least one member of the act must be high school aged (14-18). All songs performed must be original; meaning no covers. Acts can be of any genre, as long as that act contains some form of instrumentation. Applications are due by April 5^.

For more information, and to get the application, visit WYEP’s website, wyep.org. Applications can be submitted online, or emailed to Matthew Spangler. For more information, please contact Matthew Spangler at matthew@wyep.org

Re(imagine) Media is a teen-led organization centered on media creation and advocacy. The program is designed to empower participants as the voice of today's youth. Participants hone leadership skills as they become spokespeople for issues that are important to them.

91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh, the first green station in the nation, is a nationally recognized Triple A public radio station and leading Pittsburgh arts organization. The WYEP Community Broadcast Center is a LEED- Silver Certified building and is located on the Pittsburgh’s South Side. 91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh is an independent voice, inspiring our community with diverse music and vibrant ideas.

The Christmas Letter

So, we sent out a full version of this to my friends and family as a Christmas Letter, so I decided to adapt it a twinge for here. Enjoy, or cringe:

Hello!

            So last year we sent out one of these Christmas Letters. Apparently someone read the letter, and enjoyed what was intended as torment. So, back by popular demand, here goes nothing:

This year was a challenge to see how full a schedule could be, and how much we could change.

Matt and I are still very much involved with scouting. We went to summer camp again this year, and it seemed like the same thing over again, only this time we knew a tad more of what we were doing. We started this tradition where our troop invites the staff into our site on Wednesday night at camp, and we have a bonfire, sing songs, and have this awesome scouting fellowship night. It’s a unique part of scouting that I’ve found very enjoyable.

We also took our first real “vacation” for seven days on the Delmarva Peninsula (which I maintain isn’t real) in Bethany Beach, Delaware. It was nice to get away from the nonsense of life for a week, take close to 1,000 pictures, and marvel at the ocean. It was my and Matt’s first time seeing the ocean, and it was something I won’t soon forget. We plan on going again eventually.

What little remained of the summer was spent in the form of weekends at my Grandma and Pappy’s camp. I made pizza mountain pies nonetheless, and Matt had his turn at taking a whack at the art form of golf cart driving. There’s nothing better than spending a Friday night around a campfire with your family and some new friends. Between the many runs to the store and golf cart parades, we’ve probably put a good hundred miles on that golf cart.

Summer gave way to fall, and Matt entered the 8^th grade, and I entered the 10^th.

Matt is involved with the marching and concert bands. He plays the saxophone like nobody’s business, and was even chosen to participate in an honors band. Matt marched in Pittsburgh’s Celebrate the Season Parade, and he is going to Disney this March on a seven day adventure with the marching band.

I have been involved with the high school chorus and Guys Ensemble. I’ve also delved into the world of announcing with the Carlynton Marching Band. I’m still involved with the WYEP project, and love every minute of it.

            My grandmother, Baba Popichak, celebrated her birthday in November. She had a good laugh at the rest of us when her team, the Pirates, started a winning streak this summer that ALMOST got them above .500. She still has a fantastic memory that is far better than the rest of ours, and she and I have talked aimlessly for hours over at her house.

            My father celebrated 15 years as a priest at Slickville along with our parish family. We had a breakfast in his honor, and earlier in the year we had the pleasure to welcome Bishop Daniel and a few seminarians out to our humble parish.

            As for my mother, she took a new job in Crafton working at a company called Chartwell. She said that it’s strange to have coworkers after working at home for 15 years, but she loves it all the same.

            Rotor the Killer Weiner Dog is easily confused. As of late, he’s continued his tradition of running around chasing an inflatable ball, and this year we’re quite convinced that he will knock over the Christmas tree one of these days.

So here’s to hoping we can make 2013 even busier, and better. That is, unless the world ends before you get this letter. I’m sorry if you don’t get it, but then again I won’t know if you didn’t. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

The Popichak Family

(Written by me, Alexander Popichak)

WYEP R(i) Press Release: WYEP’s Re(imagine) Media Is Now Accepting Applications

Tuesday, October 16, 2012
WYEP’s Re(imagine) Media Is Now Accepting Applications
A Teen-Led Advocacy and Leadership Program Centered on Media Creation

(Pittsburgh, PA) - Re(imagine) Media is currently accepting applications to join the
Re(Imagine) Media team.

Re(imagine) Media is a teen-led organization centered on media creation and advocacy.
The program is designed to empower participants as the voice of today's youth.
Participants hone leadership skills as they become spokespeople for issues that are
important to them.

This year Re(imagine) Media will work on a new project: Teen Spotlight. The idea is to
interview local teens about unique independent projects--be it a business, newspaper,
album, or anything--and shine a "spotlight" on their work.

Also, our students will plan and execute Re(imagiNATION) –our annual high school
band competition. Each spring, high schoolers are given the chance to enter the
Pittsburgh Metro Area-wide competition.

Find the Re(imagine) Media application under the Education tab, Re(imagine) Media at
wyep.org. Email your finished application to alexa@wyep.org.

91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh, the first green station in the nation, is a nationally recognized
Triple A public radio station and leading Pittsburgh arts organization. The WYEP
Community Broadcast Center is a LEED- Silver Certified building and is located on the
Pittsburgh’s South Side. 91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh is an independent voice, inspiring our
community with diverse music and vibrant ideas.

Wuthering Heights: An Overview: Wuthering Heights Journal: Part Ten And One Half

So I recently finished the novel Wuthering Heights.

If I were to describe it in a few words, it would be summed up as a dark love-story in reverse. I can see how this was hailed as a classic because for its time, this love-story-in-reverse is a revolutionary idea.

I guess I should explain why it is a love story in reverse. It seems that the only time everyone was truly happy was in the beginning of Mrs. Dean's tale. As the novel progressed, all of the characters seemed to get angrier in countenance as their stories and injustices deepened.

This novel basically follows the life and times of the (extremely) evil Heathcliff, incited by Lockwood meeting him, and asking Mrs. Dean about him.

If I were to assign a generic theme to this novel it would be: Don't be a Heathcliff. However, I don't think that serves as a theme as much as it serves as just good advice. So, I guess in a broader sense, a theme could be that love can prevail only if both parties pursue it.

Another could be along the lines of that of Romeo and Juliet, where the inevitability of fate plays a rather huge role. It seems that every character is realistic in the sense of how they are their own person, and organically make decisions of their own accord without realizing how it affects one another.

Love plays a role in this novel in complicating itself. (I need to explain this...) Heathcliff loves Catherine I, and that's plain as day. However, because of his three-year absence, Catherine I moves on and marries Edgar Linton, writing Heathcliff off as escaped and possibly dead. He comes back, and is essentially told "you snooze, you lose" and he cannot find it inside of himself to move on. His life's mission is avenge this doomed love.

It appears that Heathcliff was doomed from the start with this love, after all, why couldn't he have just written her off as a sister, and loved her in that sense? It probably would have made him less a devil and less a tortured soul. (Remember that in this universe, it is apparently okay to marry your cousin?)

I have been looking at this novel through the eye of a high school sophomore in the United States in 2012. My guess is that some of the goings-on in this novel would make more sense to me if I were a fifteen or sixteen year old living in the late 18th century. Nevertheless, it stands out to me as a reverse love story which Mr. Lockwood played as a vessel, and not a pivotal piece (I am still a tad bummed about that part...).

I see love as an understanding between two people that there is something more between them. Love is this concept one cannot quantify in mere words, but rather through this mental understanding. There are ways of showing this love, but in the end the love itself is this understanding of one another. It seems that neither Heathcliff nor Catherine I ever understood that part.

Stuck in Reverse: Wuthering Heights Journal: Part Ten (the last one)

So Heathcliff was evil until the bitter end.

Mrs. Dean finally finishes her tale, and this is what we gather:

• Heathcliff takes her back to the Heights almost immediately after her father dies.
• During this visit, he voices to Ellen his plans of how he wants things to go: He plans to be buried with Catherine (opposite side of Edgar), and already worked it out with the undertaker
• Linton dies. (I didn't particularly like him anyway...)
• Lockwood decides to meet with Heathcliff again once more to discuss his rent

So Lockwood goes to Heathcliff and basically bids him adieu. I don't particularly blame the guy, considering the situation regarding his place of residence and, well, how insane Heathcliff truly is. He also has this fantasy of sweeping Catherine II off her feet and rescuing her from Heathcliff. Yeah, right.

Flashforward to the following September, when Lockwood finds himself near the Heights and the Grange. He decides to visit Mrs. Dean again. He visits the Grange, where they last spoke, and finds that the place (technically still his under rent) is A) Occupied by a family and B) shockingly devoid of Mrs. Dean. The housekeeper explains that she is up at the Heights, and plans on getting him some form of bed.

So he goes to the Heights and steals around back, and finds Ellen on the porch. She is delighted to see him, and proceeds to tell him the following:

• Heathcliff is dead (more on that in a little)
• Hareton and Catherine II are to get married
• The Circumstances by which Heathcliff dies.

Heathcliff (shortly after Lockwood left) started acting strange. Within a few months, he goes on a strange all-night walk, and comes back happy.

This is strange because Heathcliff is considered a DARK and depressed character.

This happiness extends through a hunger strike of sorts in conjunction with a sleeping strike. He talks to Ellen about death, and striking up a will.

He is noticed talking to people that are not there, and at long last, he decides to sleep.

The next morning Mrs. Dean notices the windows to Catherine I's room are open, and it was raining. She goes to open the panels of the door, and notices Heathcliff, dead. His eyes are open and there is a grin upon his pale face.

Joseph's quote is that "the devil took away his soul".

And so ends the tale of Heathcliff, and the novel ends with Lockwood visiting the three's graves.

My final thoughts will come in a separate posting below (or above...)